Stop-watch.



F. A. DE LAY.

STOP WATCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1. 1913.

1,156,898. Patented 0613. 19, 1915.

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STOP WATCH.

APPLICATION HLED Aue.1. 1913.

1,156,893. Patented 001;. 19, 1915.

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AI'H COuWASHlNGTON n c FREDERIC DE LAY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

STOP-WATCH.

Application filed August 1, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Fnnonnio A. Dr. LAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stop-VVatches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification. I

My invention relates to stop watches, and its primary object is to provide a stop watch which can be automatically controlled and controlled from a distance, so that its starting and stopping may be simultaneous with contemporary controlling acts, thus doing away with the error which inevitably occurs when a stop watch is operated by hand.

A stop watch constructed and operated in accordance with my invention has numerous uses-and I contemplate its use wherever the automatic starting and stopping, for which I provide, would be adaptable and to advantage. For instance, the device of my invention might be used in conjunction with a revolution counter; and the mere act of applying the revolution counter to a shaft, for instance, would result automatically in thestarting of the stop watch, while the removal would result in the stopping thereof. In this connection, I might refer to my Patent, No. 977,516, issued December 6, 1910, where, broadly, an arrangement of this kind is illustrated.

My present invention is concerned with the production of a self-contained apparatus which will secure these desirable results and which will be of general application wherever, as before stated, the automatic starting and stopping would be fitting.

The features of my invention which are of primary importance and which are instrumental in giving my device the wide adaptability to which I refer, comprise means whereby the starting and stopping of the watch are placed under manual and automatic control conjointly; that is, manual control is provided for placing the device under the automatic control and removing it therefrom.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 782,418.

The automatic control which I provide is an electromagnetic control. In order that this point may be understood, it is well to point out here that an electromagnet is provided within the watch case, and after the device is placed under the automatic control, this electromagnet serves to control the starting and stopping of the watch mecha nism. It will thus be seen that the watch may be used for automatically timing the starting and stopping of a race, for instance, by the breaking of a wire, and circuits can be closed and broken by other moving objects whose movement is to be measured.

The device is particularly useful in a physics and mechanics laboratory, where the movements of physical masses are frequently measured, and where the movements may be utilized to make and break electric circuits.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of my improved stop watch; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof, the back portion of the casing being removed to reveal the interior construction, this view also including a diagrammatic representation of the controlling means; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken on the plane of the line 4l l of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 5 is a view of the cam wheel illustrated in Fig. 2, showing the wheel and its followers in a diiferent position from that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the means for operating the cam wheel, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 77 of Fig. 6, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Like reference numerals are applied to the same parts throughout the various figures.

Referring first to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the operating parts of my stop watch, as distinguished from the controlling parts, are substantially like the standard stop watches of the present day. The casing is illustrated at 8, the upper part of the casing being provided with a protecting sleeve 9 for the stem, which will be referred to later, the carrying ring 10 being mounted in the protecting sleeve.

The main spindle of the watch is illus trated at 11, and in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the second hand 12 is mounted directly upon the spindle. The minute and hour hands 13 and 1 1 respectively, are mounted upon sleeves (not shown) on the spindle 11, and are connected together in the usual manner. The operating mechanism which drives the hands and the connecting mechanism for gearing the hands together form no part of my present invention, and elaborate detail in this respect has, therefore, been omitted. It suffices to say, for the purposes of this description, that the driving gear 15, shown in Fig. 3, is provided and, as will appear as this description proceeds, this driving gear is adapted to be operatively connected with the spindle 11 of the second hand, with which this invention is essen tially concerned.

A gear wheel 16 is securely mounted upon the spindle 11, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This gear wheel is adapted to mesh with a pinion 17, in a manner to be described presently, which is mounted upon a shaft 18 upon which a pinion 19 is also secured, this pinion 19 being in constant mesh with the driving gear 15. The shaft 18 is mounted to rock in a bearing 20that is, it is mounted to swing back and forth in the direction of the arrows at shown in Fig. 3. The free end of the shaft 18 is mounted in a cam follower 21, which in turn is secured at its end firmly to a supporting plate 22 in the casing by means of a screw 23, the bearing 20 being also mounted in this supporting plate. That part of the follower 21 nearest the point 23, where it is fixed, is made thin and of a springy nature, as illustrated at 24, and the tendency for the follower is to move in the direction of the arrow Z) (Fig. 2), due to the resiliency of the part 24. The free end of the follower 21 is adapted to cooperate with the periphery of a cam wheel 25, which is mounted upon a shaft 26 in the supporting plate 22 and a second sup porting plate 27, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. This cam wheel is provided with a plurality of peripheral notches 28, the function of which will be described presently. For the present it is sufiicient to point out that the end of the follower 21 rides upon the periphery of the cam wheel 25 and at times occupies one of the notches 28.

A ratchet wheel 29 is secured upon the shaft 26, and a pawl 30 cooperates with this ratchet wheel, this pawl being secured to aplate 31 which is slidingly pivoted to a pivot member 32 secured to the supporting plate 22, all as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. (3 the lower end of this plate is broken away to reveal the pawl and that portion of the plate is indicated in dotted lines. The stem of the watch has the squared portion which is mounted in a sleeve. 31 rotatably set in the casing. This sleeve carries a beveled pinion 35, which is adapted to cooperate with the spring-wind ing mechanism (not shown). The stem has longitudinal movement in its bearing, and the lower end of the stem, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, is adapted to abut the top of the pawl 30. The upper end of the stem extends through the protecting sleeve 9 and is provided with the head 36. A spring 37 is lodged in the supporting work at one end and its free end is adapted to engage the under side of the pawl, so that it tends to raise the pawl and raise the stem, the upward movement of the stem being limited by the engagement of a collar 38 thereon with a shoulder within the sleeve 341. It will now be seen that for each downward movement of the stem the ratchet 29 is advanced one tooth, and the ratchet 29 has three times the number of teeth as the cam wheel 25 has notches. The consequence is that for every third depression of the stem the follower 21 rests in a notch of the cam wheel, as shall be pointed out more specifically when the operation of my device is described.

The ratchet wheel 29 is provided with a non-return spring 39, which is mounted to the supporting framework at 10. A second follower ll is pivoted to the supporting plate 22 at (1'2, and is provided with a lug 43, which is adapted to ride upon the periphery of the cam wheel 25 and to rest in the notches thereof, this follower extending toward the spindle 11 and being provided at its end with a shoe 1%, which is adapted to cooperate with the heart-shaped cam 45 secured upon the spindle 11. The spindle 11 is further supported by the bearing piece 46 extending over the heart-shaped cam. The follower 11 has a spring %7, which is secured to the framework at 48, bearing down quite heavily upon it, and whenever the lug 413 of the follower is at rest in one of the notches of the cam wheel, the shoe 44 engages with the heart-shaped cam to bring this eam into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, and thus to bring the second hand back to the zero position. The balance Wheel of the watch is illustrated at 4:9, and the hairspring is illustrated at 50. It will now be seen, assuming the parts being shown in normal position in Fig. 2, that is, with the second hand at rest, that the follower 11 is resting in a notch of the cam wheel, thus holding the heart-shaped cam in a position to keep. the second hand at the zero position. At the same time, the follower 21 is riding the periphery of the cam wheel and the pinion 17 is out of mesh with the gear 16.

If the stem were depressed, the cam wheel would be advanced a distance of one tooth of the ratchet 29 and the lug 13 would be raised up to the periphery of the cam wheel. There are three times as many teeth on the ratchet as there are notches, as before pointed out, and therefore for every three depressions of the stem the arrangement will be brought back to normal position. After one depression, however, as just explained, not only will the lug 43 be lifted to the periphery of the cam sufficient to free the brake shoe 44 from the heart-shaped cam, but the end of the follower 21 will be allowed to enterv a notch and the pinion 17 will be thrown into mesh with. the gear 16. The gear 17 is constantly rotating, in this embodiment of my invention, and, therefore, as soon as itis brought into mesh with the gear 16 the second hand connected therewith will begin to move. This operation continues until the next depression of the head, in

which case the follower 21 is again brought to the periphery of the cam wheel and both followers ride the periphery, as illustrated in Fig. 5. This throws the pinion 17 out of mesh with the gear wheel 16 and the second hand stops, and it stays in that position until the next depression of the stem, when the follower tl is allowed to enter a notch, so that the shoe 41 in its coiiperation with the cam 45 may carry the second hand back to zero.

I have thus far described merely the manual control and I shall now proceed to de-' scribe the automatic control which operates conjointly therewith. An armature 51 is mounted upon the follower 21, and an electromagnet core 52 has its ends disposed in proximity to said armature. The electromagnet coils 53 are provided and the terminals of these coils are connected with interior binding posts 51, 54 which, as illustrated in Fig. 4f, are electrically connected with terminal sockets 55, 55 set in but insualted from the casing by means of an insulating block 56. As illustrated, the terminal sockets 55 extend outside the casing for connection with circuit wires, which include a source of current and some controlling mechanism, shown at 57 and 58 respectively. The contact members 58 are shown merely to indicate that any means may be provided for closing the circuit and, of course, relays may be provided for energizing the electromagnet '58 by the breaking instead of by the {making of a circuit. The block 56 is set in a cut-out portion of the casing, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the back may be placed -upon the watch without interference and, as is evident, electrical connection may be made with the electromagnet without removing the back. The sockets 55 are set directly in the periphery, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and plugs 59, 59 may be used to make the desired external connections. It will now be seen that if the circuit is closed so as to energize the windings 53, the armature 51 will remain attracted to the core 52 and the pinion 17 will not be allowed to mesh with the gear 16, even though the cam wheel 25 is moved by the manipulation of the stem so as to bring one of the notches 28 into register with the follower 21. It will be seen, however, that normally the watch is under manual control, but after the cam wheel 25 has been moved so as to bring one of the notches in line with the end of the follower 21 the device is placed under the electromagnetic control, and as soon as the circuit is broken, the armature will be released and the pinion 17 will be thrown into mesh with the gear 16. In other words, in my device, before the second hand can operate it is necessary that the follower 21 be released from both the periphery of the cam wheel 25 and the influence of the electromagnet. After the device has been placed under magnetic control by the manipulation of the stem a break in the circuit starts the operation and this operation continues until the circuit is made again, so as to withdraw the pinion 17 from the gear 16 or until the stem is again manipulated to raise the follower to the periphery of the cam wheel in order to get the same results. It will thus be seen that if the device is placed under the magnetic control it may be started and stopped automatically, the return to Zero position, however, being always secured by manual manipulation.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings it is desirable to have a soft iron shield, indicated at 60, disposed in immediate proximity to the electromagnet, in order that stray magnetism from the electromagnet will find a path through said shield and so not affect the balance wheel or other delicate parts of the clock mechanism. In constructions where it is desirable to dispense with the iron shield mentioned I contemplate placing the electromagnet at some point within the instrument case remote from the balance wheel. For instance, in the form of mechanism shown in Fig. 2 the armature for the electromagnet might be disposed on the follower 21 at some point nearer the point 23. In such a case the electromagnet would of course be located in proximate relation to the armature and at a point a considerable distance from the balance wheel.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present specific description is a description of one embodiment of my invention and that I contemplate various differences which come within the scope of the appended claims. It will further be understood that the contact members 58 which I have referred to indicate any means for making and breaking the circuit, and the utility of the invention will be further emphasized when it is pointed out that this making and breaking may be carried out so that it is simultaneous with some other act, such as placing a revolution counter upon a rotating shaft, or breaking a circuit at the beginning or end of a race, or allowing a falling body' to strike a contact maker or breaker, or a moving body to strike a similar controlling device.

It is a valuable feature of my invention that the starting may be done manually and the stopping automatically, or vice versa, or both starting and stopping may be made either automatic or manual, thus securing a device which will be of wide and varied practical application.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

-1. In combination, a watch case, driving mechanism within th watch case, an indicating h'and, devices for operatively connecting said indicating hand and driving mechanism, a stem extending from the watch case for manually controlling said connecting devices, and electromagnetic means independent of said stem and disposed within the watch case for controlling said connecting devices.

2. In combination, driving mechanism, an indicating hand, devices for operatively connecting the indicating hand with the driving mechanism, means for manually controlling said connecting devices, and electromagnetic means independent of the manual controlling means, said electromagnetic means adapted to control said connecting devices.

3. In a stop watch, a cam wheel, means for manually advancing said wheel step by step, a second hand, driving means, a gear wheel operating with said second hand, a pinion adapted to mesh with sa d gear wheel, a follower carrying said pinion and cooperating with said cam wheel, sa d follower being raised and lowered by sald cam wheel to bring the pinion out of and into mesh with said gear wheel, an armature on said follower, and an electromagnet controlling the position of said follower by its influence on said armature.

4. In combination, an indicating device, driving means, means for operatively connecting saidindicating device and said driving means, manual means for controlling said connecting means, and electromagnetic means for controlling said connecting means, said electromagnetic means comprising an electromagnet and an armature carried by the connecting means.

5. A stop watch comprising, in combination, driving mechanism, an indicating device, mechanism for operatively connecting the indicating device with the driving mechanism, electromagnetic controlling mechanism, a cam wheel arranged when in one position to prevent said connecting mechanism from being operated, and manually actuated means for operating said cam to place said connecting mechanism under the control of said electromagnetic controlling mechanism.

6. A stop watch comprising, in combination, driving mechanism, an indicating device, mechanism for operatively connecting the indicating device with the driving mechanism, automatic controlling mechanism, a cam wheel arranged when in one position to prevent said connecting mechanism from being operated, and manually actuated means for operating said cam to place said connecting mechanism under the control of said automatic controlling mechanism.

7. A stop watch comprising, in combination, a drivin mechanism, an indicating device, mechanism adapted when actuated to operatively connect the indicating device with the driving mechanism, automatic controlling means for said connecting mechanism comprising an electromagnet and an armature secured to the connecting mechanism, a device arranged when in one position to prevent movement of the connecting mechanism, and manually actuated means for operating said last-mentioned device to place the connecting mechanism under the control of said automatic controlling mechanism.

8. In a stop watch, a cam wheel, means for manually advancing said wheel step by step, an indicating device, driving means, connecting mechanism comprising a follower cooperating with said cam wheel, said follower being raised and lowered by said cam wheel to bring the connecting mechanism into and out of operative position, an armature on said follower, and an electromagnet controlling the position of said follower by its influence on said armature.

9. A stop watch comprising in combination a driving mechanism, an indicating device, mechanism normally tending to connect the driving mechanism with the indicating device, manually-actuated mechanism normally locking said connecting mechanism in non-connecting position, said manually-actuated mechanism operable to release the connecting mechanism, and electromagnetic means independent of said manuallyactuated mechanism adapted to control said connecting mechanism.

10. A stop watch comprising in combination a driving mechanism, an indicating device, mechanism normally tending to connect ally-actuated mechanism adapted to control the driving mechanism With the indicating said connecting mechanism. 10 device, manually-actuated mechanism nor- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe mally retaining said connecting mechanism my name this 30th day of July, A. D. 1913.

in non-connecting position, said manually- FREDERIC A. DE LAY. actuated mechanism operable to release the WVitnesses:

connecting mechanism, and automatic con- LEONARD E. BOGUE,

trolling means independent of said manu- AUGUs'r H. L. ARNDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

